Wave motor



Dec. 14, 1926. 1,610,603

l.. G. FAIRBANK WAVE MOTOR Original Filed NOV 27. 1923 5 SheetSfShBet 1 v n IHll IIIUMEHIIIIIHH E N Dec. 14, 1926.

L. ca. FAERBANK vWAVE MOTOR Original Filed Nov. 2'7, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o /7 M50 Z Tr,- V a2 L l I Z0 /y l El 25 Patented Dec. 14, 1925'.

narran stars lLIELANI) G. FAIRBANK, OF SAN FBANCSCO, CALIFORNIA.

WAVE MOTOR.

Original application filed November 2'?, 1923, Serial No. 677,299.

Divided. and this application filed. August 24, 1925. Serial No. 52.242'.

This invention relates to prop'ellers adapted to generate power itrom the force otrun-k ning water or of waves washing back and forth, and is in fact a division of my application for patent on wave motor, led November 27, 1923 under Serial Number 677 ,299.

The principal objects of the herein described invention are to provide an automatically reversible propeller of simple rugged construction, also such a propeller especially adapted forthe wave motor described in my other application aforesaid, and of such detailed construction as will reduce the cost ot its production and adapt it to a gang assemblage of great rigidity.

I accomplishthe above objects by the propeller and mounting construction shown in the` accompanying drawings, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my propeller;

Figure 2 is an edge view of a. portion thereof;

Figure 3 is a detached view of one ot' the curved stop rods for the blades;

Figure 4 is a side view ot Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragment ot the propeller hub with portion in section showing the inner construction;

Figure 6 is an edge view of a portion of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows the hub without blades but connected to opposite runs of the hollow shaft; Y

Figure 8 is a reduced size side view showing a gang assemblage of four propellers connected to a. central gear box; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional detail of the outer end of one of the propeller spokes showing it attached to the rim ci' the propeller. Y

In further detail my propeller comprises a hub 1 preferably of a hollow ring shape as shown in Figure 1, and a series ot radially arranged spokes 2 secured to the rim of the hub at their inner ends and to a flatv metal built up or sectional ring 3 at their outer ends, while freely pivoted to swing on these spokes are the propeller blades 1.

The blades are flat and heldin place by brackets 5, 6 and 7 riveted to th-e'blades and provided with separable caps 5, 6 and 7 and internally with rust prooi liners or bearings as later described. y

The spokes 2 are or" pipe threaded at both ends and at the outer end of each is a pipe fia-nge 8 screwed in place and in turn riveted. or bolted at 9 to the ends of the curved sections orming the outer ring 3.

Atthe inner end the pipe spokes screw directly into bosses 10 after iirst passing hrough a steadying boss 11 (see Figure 5).

The brackets 5 are counterbored at the outer ends to receive each a bronze bushing 12 pressed into place and having a flange 12 forming an end bearing for the bracket 5,y while above the ila-nge the bushing forms a lined pivot for a split babbitted bearing 18 within the bracket. The bearings inthe other brackets 6 and 7 are substantially similar to the one described, thus overcoming the danger of rust at the bearings, anirnportant point since they cannot be lubricated in the salt water submerged work :tor Vwhich are intended.

The blades as so far described hangV for i-ree pivotal movement upon the spokes so that they can swing either way, depending on the direction or changing directions of water in which wave motors are used, and the movement. of the blades is limited by stopping means at both ends.- Y

The outer stopping means comprises a series of curved bars 111 forming a flat concentric ring when viewed in plan as shown in Figure 1 and of saw tooth arrangement when viewed edgewise of the propeller, as indicated in Figure 2. v

rThe edge and flat sides of these bars are indicated respectivelyin Figures 3 and 4 and they are arranged in oppositely div'erging relation on opposite sides ot the propeller so as to forni limit stops for the propeller blades in both directions of swinging ot the salme as indicated in Figure. 2.

These bars are bolted at their ends to cross arms 15 in turn secured to lianges 16 surrounding the spokes.

The blades swing outwardly to either side ot the propeller until they encounter the bars 1li which form a stopping contact entirely across the width of the blades.

rlhe inner or hub ends of the blades are also stopped at the limit ot the swinging movement of the'bladesY by lugs 17 formed on opposite sides otbearing brackets 5, and which lugs respectively meet opposing.

n lugs 18 formed on opposite sides of the hub,

thus when the blades swing over to thedesired limit of their travelin either direction they are held absolutely iirm: at the rethey quired pitch by bars at the outer ends and lugs at the inner ends.

To provide for rigid gang mounting of several propellers the hub is hollow with a circular row of bolt` bosses 19 and with opposite. sides ot the hub provided with aligning flange members 20 adapted to seat againstv complementary surfaces ol pipe flanges 2l and to which flanges sections of large pipe 22 are screwed as well as welded or pinned so as to `form a hollow shaft extending' from one propellerI to the next1 tl' e pipe flanges 21 beingv bolted to the hub by bolts passingv through both flanges and hub.

Figure S .shows such van assemblage with :four propellers in place and at the extreme ends o' the shalt 22 are flanges 2l to which are bolted flanges 2Q carrying bearing` e-- tensions 2a'- oi a lesser diameter lha the large hollow shaft. and when used with the wave motor oit my former application, l provide similar reduced bearing' portions 25 midway the length of vthe shatt and ein tend them into a gear bor; Q6 througl stuffingboxes 27.

1Within the gear box 2G the reduced shaft portions 25 are geared in anv conventional manner, not shown, to a right anale shaft 28 extending1 outoli the gear box through a stung' boi; 29 so as to provide, when the 1rear propeller is submerged and sr-.ita.l. l}fr supported for rotation, a vertically extendingv power shaft available above the surface of the water.

My invention as above described, while devised with especial reference to my wave motor mentioned, is not neeessarilv limited to sueh specific use, and I therefore claim the construction vas follows.

l claim:

l. In a device of the character described lnopelling;` means comprising a. shalt, rods radially extending' .therefronn propeller blades pivoted to said rods and means for limitingthe angle of swingingl motion allowing the blades to automatically assume operative position responsive to the direetion of {iov-7 of a driving medium and oomprising stoppingv members extendingV from the Jthe radial rod oi each blade at an angle to plane of the rods on opposite sides of the same, and cross arms associated with the next succeeding .blade connecting,- the ends of the stoppingY members.

2. In a propeller of the character described, a hub, round spokes screwed into the hub, propeller blades pivoted to said spokes and a guiding` device on the hub vior each spoke at a point outward troni its threaded engagement with the hub.

il. ln a propeller o1 the character described, propeller blades, a hub supporting;Y the pro'ieller blades, said hub having` flange aligning devices on opposite sides thereof and provided with means for boltinr it to complementary flanges.

Ll. ln a propeller vot' the character described, propeller bla-des. a lnib having' ra dial spokes supporting the propeller blades with freedom for pivotal movement thereon and cooperating stopping means on the bll es and hub adapted to limit said pivotal movement.

ln a propeller o't the character described, propeller blades, a hub havingl radial .spokes supporting the propeller blades with freedom for pivotal movement thereon: cooperznzinnv stopping' means on the blades and hub adapted to limit said pivotal movement, and fin-ther stopping; means active the outer portions of the blades.

6. In la propeller kof the ycharacter describedy propeller blades. a hub having' ra dial spokes supporting' the propeller blades with freedom for pivotal movement thereon` and stopping; n'ieans for limiting the pivotal movement of the blades active against the face of the blades, said means comprising ring sections extending from spoke to spoke.

7. ln a propeller of the character described, propeller blades, a (hub having' radial spokes supporting the propeller bladesA gior swinging movement thereon, flanges at the outer ends of the spokes and curved plate sect-ions secured to and extending from flange to flange, .said sections forming a complete ring1 `around the propeller.

LELAND G. FARBANK. 

